Real answer: ease of use

If I wanted to find a particular subreddit for whatever, it was as easy as typing in the name of the show or hobby. And it linked to other similar / related subreddits

Or someone would link to another subreddit in a comment.

Here I'm having to sit and learn what an instance is and if the community I was in transfered over, and if they did where did they go. It's turning away alot of the less tech savvy people.

Does it need to be as popular as reddit? I don't think so, anything that grows too big becomes a hassle and a problem. But to grow it would need easier interface or ability to find/interact with other communities.

Not OP but Not all painkillers work against migraines and something that works for one person might make it worse in another.

It's a balancing act of trying to find out what will help and not make it worse that it already is.

Will coffee help? Maybe or it'll make it worse Will pot help? Maybe or it'll make it worse Etc.

I'm that person with chronical headaches/migraines

It sucks but unfortunately after a while you just kinda get used to it.

I do what I can to minimize the amount of time I'm out of commission.

Shit sucks...but I'm still here

Based on OP it has other functions than just Spotify.

But things like that shouldn't need a subscription. It's a shitty thing to do.

Pelton, this car thing, etc. Have other functions that don't require the subscription but by making it mandatory they give you a unusable piece of junk if you ever cancel.

Same to you